Abstract
Most of the current cost models focus on a particular manufacturing process or a specific maintenance aspect, therefore not providing the whole picture. The main challenge in modelling the manufacturing cost, associated to a new aircraft at the initial design stage, is to examine all the cost features and the way to link them into the decision making process. It is important to understand the cost related to different competing designs, and this can be tackled by including cost estimation in the design process. Estimating the cost at the early design stage is paramount to reduce the life cycle cost of the aircraft. This paper presents the development of a new methodology for the generation of a cost estimation approach for preliminary aircraft design in a multidisciplinary environment. The framework is able to capture the design attributes that drive the cost allowing a designer to assess cost changes with respect to different design configurations. The cost model is built in Excel using a Visual Basic interface and it is integrated within Model Centre platform, where it can be treated as a component of a computational design process. The paper concludes by presenting the results from a real wing trade-off study that includes all the components of a complete design system.
Highlights
Cost is a factor of success in the product/service of many industries
The model is capable of calculating the Direct Operating Cost and provides the output in terms of both net present value and the absolute cost
In order to show the capability of the cost model a trade study has been performed on the same aircraft using different wing material, composite versus metallic
Summary
Cost is a factor of success in the product/service of many industries. Reducing cost may be essential for survival in today's competitive aircraft market. Companies are more frequently required to improve their quality, while maintaining or reducing their costs. Companies that do not provide cost estimates at the initial development phases have a higher probability for programs to fall behind schedule, which implies higher development costs [1]. Understanding the cost of a new project development before it starts, can make the difference between success and failure. Cost regards the amount of money expended with delivery of products and it should cover any expenditure of time, human, material and tooling resources, from a total cost management perspective [2]
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